Two Truths and a Lie: LSU vs Arkansas

By Chris Marler

It’s a great Sunday in Louisiana. LSU won, Alabama lost and we are less than two weeks away from Thanksgiving. But before that, we have to take care of our weekly Sunday tradition. Here’s two truths and a lie.

Truth No. 1 – Always celebrate the wins. 

I’m a big believer in this principle, just not in the way Brian Kelly framed it after the Florida win. Acting as if winning wasn’t covering deeper issues is part of what triggered this season’s downfall. And, I don’t think expecting more from a program like LSU makes the media or fanbase entitled. But should you celebrate the wins? Yes, you still always celebrate the wins. 

That’s especially necessary after the last month of turmoil, chaos and embarrassment that LSU has had to endure. Lost in all of the things happening around the program was the three game losing streak on the field. 

Saturday’s win over Arkansas won’t garner any dramatic paintings to be hung around Tiger Stadium. And, a one point win over Arkansas at 11:45 a.m. isn’t going to go down as an “I remember where I was” moment for Tiger fans for years to come. But, winning a trophy game with a backup quarterback, and having to come from behind to do so is something that should be celebrated. 

And, we always celebrate the wins guys. 

Truth No. 2 – Saturday shouldn’t skew the hiring process. 

Saturday was great. But, today is Sunday. And tomorrow will be Monday. Life goes on and the process of hiring the next coach at LSU shouldn’t be made because of a prisoner of the moment emotional reaction.  

The due diligence required to find the right person to lead this program can’t be rushed. This year’s coaching carousel is historic, an unusual number of elite Power 4 jobs are open at the same time. That expands the candidate pool, but it also makes the competition for top coaches fiercer than it’s been in years, maybe ever.

I believed that LSU was the best job of any available in the country. It’s a better job than Penn State, UCLA, Auburn and Florida in most years. But once the Louisiana governor stepped in, followed by two weeks of early PR missteps, LSU found itself starting from behind. That doesn’t mean LSU has fallen from the top tier of this coaching cycle. But the early missteps, along with the unresolved questions around Brian Kelly’s buyout and termination, could give some candidates pause.

The Lie – The win wasn’t historic. 

I know that earlier I alluded to the fact that Saturday’s win wasn’t going to be something that is remembered by fans for decades to come. But, it was still a historic win, especially for Frank Wilson. 

Wilson became the first black head coach in program history to record a win at LSU. 

You could see how much the win meant to him in the postgame. I don’t know if Wilson is the right choice to be the next head coach, but I do believe this: when someone is genuinely invested in the place they represent, it usually shows in their work. 

Cliches aside, it just means more to people like that. It felt that way when Ed Orgeron was here. It feels that way with people like Kenny Dillingham at Arizona State, Brent Key at Georgia Tech, and Kirby Smart at Georgia. 

Hiring someone that truly loves the university they’ve coached or played at isn’t guaranteed to translate into wins. It does, however, translate into someone like Wilson waking up every day driven to succeed, not because of the paycheck, but because of how much he cares about the people and the place behind it.